William Everson - Murray J. Smith Collection

William Oliver Everson (religious name Brother Antonius), American Roman Catholic poet, was born on September 10, 1912, in Sacramento , California. His parents were Christian Scientists. During his studies at Fresno State College, Everson read the works of Robinson Jeffers and decided to become a poet. In 1935, he published his first book, "These Are the Ravens." Although Everson was drafted during World War II, he served at a work camp for conscientious objectors in Waldport, Oregon. He married his second wife, poet Mary Fabilli and then converted to Roman Catholicism. Upon becoming a Dominican lay brother, Everson lived in monastic withdrawal for seven years. In 1957, he returned fully to writing, publishing his long poem, "River Root." Participating in the Beat movement of the San Francisco poetry renaissance, Everson published most of his poetry as Brother Antonius. In 1969, Everson returned to secular life. He married for the third time and taught poetry and letterpress until his retirement in 1982. Everson's works include "The Residual Years: Poems 1934-1948" (1968), "The Veritable Years: Poems 1949-1966" (1978), "In Medias Res" (1984), and the Blood of the Poet" (1994). William Everson died on June 3, 1994 in Santa Cruz, California. [Source: Encyclopedia Britannica Online]